Switch mechanism



Sept. 21

A. DORSEY SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Oct. 24. 19 23 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY Iv I .3 ZW

twENToR Sept. 21 1926'. v

- A. DOR$EY SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Oct. 24. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 v I v I I c Q l VENTOR I BYIY I wwwr ATTORNE 5 i Patented Sept. 21,

UNITED,STATES-PATENT 01 mm,;

'nnrnua nonsnv, or naooxmm, New Your.

SWITCH MECHANISM.

Application mafomberm, 1923. Serial 1%. 670,405.

This invention relates to switch mecha:

' n-ismof the type which isto be thrown on and oil? automatically" at predetermined times, and. is designed primarily with refer-- ence to ajso-c-alled time switch in which a clock. moveme'ntprovides the motive ower for actuating theswitch for the desire control of a circuit, at stated time's determined by a manual setting.

- The invention hasfon its principal'object to provide in a switch mechanism of the- :character described simple and positive 'actuatin'g devices for invariably throwing a x mechanical switch. More particularly, the

inve-ntion'seeks to provide on levers both. movable in the same direction and d1s-. posed at the same side-of the axis of turn- 1Ilg.0f the switch element and both oper -i able and under-the influence ofarmsmovable uni directionally.

A further object of the invention is to provide switch'mechanism in which all of the parts are mounted on a 'single shaft and movable about the same center. To this end, the invention in its preferred form contemplates the use of a rotating switch element.

Still another object of the invention is to actuate .the switch member with what may be termed a double hammer blow, the operating element for the switch receiving in both the on and"otf movements its initial impulse from a coiled spring and being later assisted in its movement home by a supplemental spring designed .to operate after the'switch member has passed its dead center and termed hereinafter for convendeuce, a toggle spring.

Still another ob'ect of the invention he on? and ofi leversto associate with t co-operating. stops for limiting their travel and for resetting certain pawls associated" therewith and arrangedto ick up the switch member at the times intended, re-' stay on dea d center and without jamming any of the parts.

Further ob'ects of the invention have to do with matters of importance concerning.

the manufacture and. assembling of the parts and the electrical connections therefor, the

mechanical. elements being mounted on animproved base which may'have formed therewith .a compartment for the terminals,

thereby making a separate junction box unnecessary.

Referenceis now to be had to theaccompanying drawings 'for a' detail description of the preferred embodiment, in which Figure 1 is .a view in front elevation .show1ng the parts assembled within the improved box, the lower portion of the front wall: being broken awayto-"show the junctionbox incorporated in j thi'e lower part thereon Figure 2 is a view in transverse section taken through'the box shown in Figuraland. indicatin the relation and disposition ot'the severa units of the switch mechanism.

Figure 3 is a viewsimilar generally to Figure 1 but with the front plate removed.

.Figures 4:9 and 11 show in elevation vari-v ous'partsoftheswitch mechanism in different positions and are intended to make clear thejmethod of throwing the switch on and off automatically.

Figure-10 is a view in elevationof the partsshown in Figure 7 with the switch blades and bridge omitted in the interest of clearness and the pawl out of engagement with the yoke. s

-As. indicatedhereinbefore, the improved switch mechanism is designed primarily with. reference to its .use in association with-a clock which may carry operating arms adaptedto throw the switch on or ofi at pre-- determined hours depending upon the main ual setting. The invention. is not to be limited to such application and the drawings-do not illustrate any-oi the details of the source of power for tripping the switch. automati-' .cally. In the preferred construction a casing 2i having certain improvements therein is provided to receive the switch mechanism indicated in Figure 3. This casing a is adapted to receive, a boxb havin a transverse wall I) therein to' form wit the bottom of the casing a a lower compartment 6 in which may be housed the terminals 6 andinto-which may be led through the bottom wall of the casing a the several Wires 6* for connectionlwith the respective ter-- minals. Between the plate I) and thejtop' wall 6 of the box-b may be formed a separate compartment in vwhich is housed the switch mechanism proper.-- The box 6 may be secured in the casing a by means of a singlebolt 0 extending through the box and taking into the rear wall of the case the head 0' of the bolt being exposed at the frd'nt of the box tofacilitate removal ofthe selfcontained unit comprised by the box, 6 -and the parts carried. therein. A suitable door a may be carried by the case to close it. The front wall 6 of the box may have a sight'iopening-b therein-through which the through slots '6, 6 respectively, in the top wall of the box b and ,be engageable perihand operated lever d' for the switch may be observed to ascertain, from the appropriate markings thereon whether the switch is off or on. The hand-lever may extend upward- 1y through a slot 6 in the top wall otthe -box Z) for engagement with the finger to per-' mit it to be thrown infone direction or anothenfor actuation of the switch. It is ob:

-vious that the general characteristics o'fflthe improved mounting and the relationship and operation of parts, will not be altered by' omitting the top compartment, as such, in switches designed for lower voltages. Before describing the details of the switch mechanism it may be noted that generallyspeaking, automatic actuation thereof is effected through two levers one of which e may be termed for convenience the elf lever and the other of which 7 may be termed the. on lever since these levers when engagedby the power means are thrown to bring aboutsuch a condition of the switch. Theselevers e,'- 7, may extend upwardly odically by power operated operating arms carried, for instance, by a clock mechanism which may be housed in the upper part of which 'travelunidi-rectionally.-

the casing a. One such operating arm 9 is indicatedfor clearness in Figure 1." and-is shown in position about to pick up the lever e and move it towards the right for-.tripping. A-similar. arm will move for co-operation with theon lever 7. The-invention is not to be limited to the particular-type of actuating mechanism employed except that one phase of theinvention is concerned with the provisionof on. and, off levers movable in thesame direction anddisposed on the same side of the; axis of -throw by arms The switch- 'llustrated herein. is the double pole type including two similar blades g, gspacedv apart but positively interconnected by a bridge 9 and adapted to oscillate on a supporting shaft h fixed in three vertical brackets 21,2", 5 carried on a common base 2", securedto the compartment plate b.- The invention is not. limited to the precise character of the switch. In ac.-

cordance with the invention it is proposed,

however, to have all of the elements movable about the same center and this is accomplished byhaving all of the elementsmove about the supporting shaft k, Reference is now to be had to Figure 2 .for. an understanding of the elements which are carried by the shaft k. Commencing with the hand lever .d which acts as a clamping'washer there is-seen a strip of insulation is, between through-the hand lever d and the various elementsjust described and into the flange 9* thereby uniting all of the parts positively for simultaneous oscillation'on the shaft la. The rivets Z will,*of course, be insulated} from the switch blade 9. In the same figure,

at the rear end of the. shift it there will be found corresponding elements including aback clamping washer l, insulation pieces k k ,:atopposite sides of the switch blade 9' and a clamping plate 9 which may be formed as a flange on the rear end of the so-ca-lled bridge 9'. The last named parts Z, 76 g, lei-and 9 are united so as to move.

as a unitary structure with the elements con nected with the other blade {1 as heretoforedescribed. Hand operation of the switch members by oscillatingthe lever d will now be clear. Automatic operation, throughthe on and off levers e, f is to be described. While reference has been made hereinbefore ,to a single shaft it this shaft, in fact, is made in two aligned sections in order that a-space may be aflorded for what may be termed a toggle, spring m which is adapted to act on the switch mechanism after it passes dead center to assist in throwing it home, and then holding it yieldingly in the on or off posi' 'tion. spring m is anchored on a .pin a" carried with the bracket 6" and theother end is anchored at the other side Ofthe axisof the As shown, one end of this toggle shaft h on an arm h, journaled on the rear shaft section 172. This rear shaft section It rocks with the switch blade 9 and the associated parts so that all such parts are subappear. The 'front shaft section h,- on the other hand, may be held against rotation while the front switch member g'and the associated parts oscillate thereon.

i carries an ordinary coiled spring n one end of which is fixed and the other end of ject to the tension of the spring m when, the switch is thrown on or off, asv will later Again referring to Figure 2 the bracket which is connected operatively with the off lever ekwhich oscillates about the shaft It, the action of the spring being to throw the lever e. in a counterclockwise direction.

The bracket i, has anchored to its front face an ordinary coiled spring 0 the other end of which is engaged operatively with 4 The arm h which is subject to the ,actionv of the toggle spring m is formed with a j yoke h the other end-of which is journa-led on the front shaft section It as indicated by p the bearing ring 72 This lastnamed end of the yoke also carries an upwardly extending arm It provided with a flange h for engagement by a pawl e pivoted as at eon the off arm 6. The tail e of the pawl is adapted to engage a stop 5 carried'with the bracket '1' when the off lever e is carried by the power actuator to its extreme right hand position as indicated in Figure 8.

.When the tail 0 of the pawl engages the stop 1' the pawl will be rocked about its pivot a and its end thrown into the path of the flange b so that upon release of the arm 6. when it is moved to the left under the influence of the coil spring n and, later, the toggle spring m, the yoke k will'be rocked about the shaft k in a counterclockwise direction. The arm h which is integral with the yoke h isals'o integral with an arm h which moves with the yoke in the manner described and, when the switch members are engaged with the terminals g engages the bridge 9 which positively connects the switch members and throws the switch member'in a counterclockwise direction into the off position illustrated in Figure 3. Fig ure 11 illustrates the relation of thearm 71, to the bridge 9 at the end of this off movementwhileFigure 5 indicates the relation of the'arm h to the bridge 9- before the ofi lever is tripped. After the off lever is tripped to throw the switch into the off position the tail 6 of the pawlwill engage a pin .2" on the bracket 6 and limit the movement of the off lever e', and throw the pawl out of the path of the flange h'.

Referencejs now to behad to Figures 6 and 7. In these figures it appears that the throw lever f whereby the switch is to I be moved on to position, has aidownwardly extending arm I on which is pivoted as at o a pawl Q2 The tail 0 of this pawl engages a fixed abutment a" on the bracket 71' when the throw lever f. is oscillated to its f in a counter Figure 8 the pawl e is brought automatical ,ly into line with the flange k on the arm it extreme position in a counterclockwise direction under the influence of the on lever when the latteris moved to the right in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 6. Engagement-of the tail 0 of the pawl 0 with the stop 2" serves to reek thepawl and. throw its nose into;oper ative relation with the yoke h -so that when the arm lever f is tripped .and rotated in a counterclockwise direction. under the influence of the springs o and m, and the throw lever f is simultaneously oscillated, in a clockwise direction the pawl will oscillate the yoke h? in a clockwise direction to throw the switch members on. This is done by engagement of the yoke h with the underside of the bridgeg as shown in Figure 7 .L In this fi re the switch member 9 is fully home and t e yoke The relation of the position of the-parts will now be' considered briefly with reference to Figures 4-11. As shown in full lines in Figure 5 the switch members are on. At this time, the toggle spring m is' effective to exert its pressure to revolve the switch members on the shaft k in a clockwise direction thereby maintaining the blades in en-' gagement with the terminals 9 When the .off lever e is picked up by the power operating arm and moved to the position shown in of the yoke h so that when the arm e is released the springs throw itto the left, the

first action being for the vpaw l e to forcibly I engage the flange It? in its movement to the left and the next action for the arm k to forcibly. engage the upper side of-the bridge g and rock the switch members out of engagement with the terminals 9 The movement may be said to include a double hammer blow and the toggle spring at all times is effective to assist in carrying the switchhome as it passes dead center. When the ap-- propriate power arm picks up the on lever f and moves it to the position shown in Figure 6 at which time it is aboutt be tripped the pawl 0 will be rockedJabout its pivot o through engagement of the tail 0 with the abutment'vl so that'upon releaseof the on 'lever f the pawl will pick up the yoke k forcibly and the yoke b will move in a clock wise direction until it forcibly engagesthe rear side of the bridge g thereby osclllating the switch members into engagement with the terminals. Thetoggle spring mpasses through the center of the shaft b and as- I sist-s in carrying the switch elements home.

An important feature of the con'jstructiori' adapting the'mechanism-to winter use in ex-;

posed locations resides in the provision-of a heating coil indicated schematically at 1' 'in ment into-on or off position upon swinging.

ing'from the spirit of Figures 1&3. This heating coil is located in -mounting and demounting the coil for use according to winter requirements ithas downwardly dependingflterminals- 1-, 7*, which when rojected through slots in the the said switch; mechanism, a front insulated plate secured to the' inounting'and forming a complete closure for the mechanism and a casing to: receive said mounting, havinga' detachable front wall.

' 6. In switch mechanism,'a ounting for h the said mechanis'mjformed of insulating material and providing a. partial closure therefor, manually operating means for the top plate of t 1e compartment comerifit o eon mechanism, -means to pivotally mount the tact yieldingly with the terminals 9' thereby automatically completing the circuit. through the coil of the heating unit. The coil which may be of any suitable form is 7 mounted within ,convenient reach and is adapted for ready removability.

Ch-angesin matters of design and arrange-- ment of parts may be made .without departthe invention. What I claim is 7 1... Switch mechanism comprising a switch element,-pivoted operating levers therefor movable in the same direction, and meansinterposed operatively between the respective levers and the, said switch, for moving the same into 011' and on position as desired; upon movement-of the appropriate lever in. the said direction.

2: Switch mechanism including a-switch element, means-to mount the element for mmltt'ing movement of the levers to the sand tation, pivoted operating levers therefor dis- POIGCl at one side of said axis and movable in the same direction,- and means operatively interposed betweenfth'e res ective levers and 'the switch element to osci late the switch elemovement of the appropriate lever. 3; Switch mechanism comprising a switch element, pivoted operating levers therefor terposed operative? movable in the same direction, and means in between the respective levers and the sai switch for moving the same into ed and on position as desired upon element mounted for rotation, pivoted operating levers therefor disposed, at one side of the. axis of said element, means nterposed operatively between one of said levers and the switch element at a point above said axis to movethe switch element in one direction, and means interposed between another of saidlevers and the switch element below said axis to move the switch element in a counterdirection.

5. In switch -'mechanism an. "insulated mounting for the mechanism having a transverse horizontal partition of insulating materialforming a base to support said mechanism, said mounting forming a partial closure for said mechanism, terminals: carried means within the casing to provide an externally projecting portion, means on the pivotal'ly mounted member to indicate' the' condition of the mechanism, a front msur 7. A mechanicalswitch mechanismincluding switch blades mounted to oscillate on a fixed axis, means to oscillate the said blades,vv

said means being mounted for operation aboutthe same fixed axis, "and means movable uni-di'rectionally for." initiating operation of saidoperatingmeans.

8. Switch mechanism including switch blades mounted to oscillate on a fixed axis, operating levers therefor mounted to swing on the same axis, meansoperativel adapted to swing on the same axis for'transbeing mounted for movement on the same shaft and power means operative to a'cceler-' ate movement of saidoperating levers.

10. In combination with switch mechanism comprising a switch element adapted to oscillate on a fixed axis, operatinglevers mounted to move in the same direction, power means for moving the said operating leverspsprings operativelyenga ed with the respective levers to oppose suc movement I yieldingly, and means interposed'operativel between the respective levers and. the switc element to' transmit movement of the levers to the switch element.

interposed between said levers and sai blades .11. In switch mechanism in combinzitidii2 with a switch element adapted to oscillate on -a fixed axis, operating levers therefor mov- I able in the same direction, and means independent of the switch element and the levers ut engageable'by the .-respecti ve levers upon movement thereof for transmission of the movement or such levers to the switch element. A

12. Switch" mechanism includingia switch by said partition and separated thereby from element adapted to 'oscillate'on a fixed axis,

pivoted operating levers therefor adapted to be'oscillated on their respective pivots for operation of the switch element, said levers being movable freely in one direction independent of the switch element; and means carried with the said levers to engage the switch element when the said levers move in a counter-direction for actuation of the switch. I

13. Switch mechanism including a support, means to mount the mechanlsm on a fixed axis on the support, a switch element adapted to oscillate on the fixed axis, an operating member. for the switch element adapted to oscillate on the same axis, and a spring connected to the support and engaged restrainingly with the said operating mem her to resist movement thereof in both directions'of oscillation.

14. In switch mechanism a mounting for the mechanism having a transverse hOI'lZOIltal wall of insulating material below which This specification signed this 29th day of September A. D. 15923.

ARTHUR DORSEY. 

